Air face-mask.



. GANZER.

AIR FACE MASK.

`APPLICATION F|LED1uNE11.1915.

THE COLUMBIA PumoGrgAml C0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. M. GANZER.

AIR FACE MASK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1I. 1915.

me/Wm@ JM, Ganzer THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH vC0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN M. GANZER, 0F' POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

AIR FACE-MASK.

Specification of lLetters Patent.

Patented May 3o, 1916.

Application filed .Tune 11, V1915. Serial No. 33,553.

l T0 all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. GANZER, citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Face-Masks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improved life saving apparatus embodying a helmet or air mask and Vmeans to supply the helmet or air mask with oxygen for breathing by the user and especially adapted for use by firemen and other persons who have to go into burning buildings or other places filled with noxious gases and the like, the object of the invention being to provide improved apparatus of this character which is adapted to be worn on the person, is cheap and simple, is light, and is entirely efficient in operation.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure l is a front elevation of the air storage and supply garment. Fig. 2. is a plan of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a. side elevation of the complete lifesaving apparatus, showing the same in use. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of the mask and its connections.

In accordance with my invention I provide an air or oxygen storage and supply garment 1 which is adapted to be worn on the body, like a coat or jacket and is here shown as open in front as at 2 and provided with suitable fastening buttons 3. The garment comprises inner and outer fabrics 4--5 and flexible tubular cylinders which are arranged in the space between the said fabrics. As here shown an upper flexible tubular cell 6 is provided at the upper side of the garment, a similar flexible tubular cell 7 is'provided at the bottom of the garment and vertically arranged tubular flexible cells 8 are also provided which connect and communicate with said upper and lower cells 6-7. The garment lis here shown as provided with straps 9 for suspending the same from the shoulders of the wearer. In one side of the garment is a pocket 10 in which a mask 11 may be card ried when the apparatus is not in use. The

'a head strap 13 to enable the mask to be securely and yet detachably fastened on the head. A flexible mouth tube 14 is connected to the upper flexible tubular cell`6 or may be connected at any other suitable point to one of the cells and has its upper end connected as at 15 to the lower portion of the mask and provided with a check valve'16 which is adapted to open upwardly but which closes downwardly against back pressure. The said valve tube 14 enables the wearer of the apparatus to inhale through the mouth, air or oxygen from the storage cells of the garment. v

A flexible nose tube 17 leads from the nose portion of the mask or helmet to the lower flexible tubular cell 7 of the garmentv to which it is connected by an elbow 18. Said elbow is provided with a valve 19 for the escape of dioxid gas from the lower portions ofthe cells. The connecting'nipple 20vbetween the pipe 17 and the nose portion of the mask is provided with a check valve 21 which permits the wearer to exhale through the nose, and which closes against back pressure from the cells. A parting walll 22 is provided on the inner side of the mask to fit closely againstrthe upper Y lip and thereby form an exhaling chamber 23 into which the nose extends and an inhaling chamber 24 in the mask and into .A supply tank 25 which is charged with compressed air or oxygen is also provided, which is adapted to be carried in a side pocket2'6 and is connected by" a valvedpipe 27 with one of the cells of the garment and by means of which tank the cells of the garment may be supplied from time to time with fresh air or oxygen as desired.

In the operation of the device the user breathes through the mouth and pipe 14 and exhales through the nose and vpipe 17. The exhaled air, containing dioxygen gas is l which the chin extends and with'which the. f mouth communicates.

forced by the exhalations to the bottom of the garment and the cellstherein. The dioxygen gas, being heavier than the air or oxygen in the cells stays at the bottom while the oxygen or air rises and as the pipe 14 is connected to the upper portion of the garment, the air breathed by the user is pure and free from dioxygen. From time to time as the dioxygen accumulates and increases it escapes through the valve 19, said valve being held normally closed by a spring of suitable strength and forming in effect a safety valve for the escape of noxious gas.

The air or oxygen in the apparatus may be supplied freshly from time to time as required from the tank 25 and as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. In a device as set forth, the combination, of a coat, flexible tubular cells extending annularly about the top and bottom of said coat, a plurality of flexible vertical tubular cells communicating with said annular cells, an air inlet tube communicating with the upper of said annular cells, an air outlet tube communicating with said upper annular cell at a point removed from the point of communication between said inlet tube and the annular cell, and a return inlet tube communicating with the lower annular cell.

2. In a device as set forth, the combination, of a coat, flexible tubular cells extending annularly about the top and bottom of said coat, a plurality of vertical tubular cells communicating with said annular cells, a face mask adapted to fit snugly over the face of the wearer, inhalation and exhalation compartments formed in said face mask, a tube communicating with said inhalation compartment and said upper annular'cell, and a tube communicating with said exhalation compartment and said lower annular cell.

3. In a device as set forth, the combination, of a coat, flexible tubular cells extending annularly about the top and bottom of said coat, a plurality of vertical tubular cells communicating with said annular cells, a face mask adapted to fit snugly over the face of the wearer, inhalation and exhalation compartments formed in said face mask, a tube communicating with said inhalation compartment and said upper an- Gopes of thm patent may be obtainedfor ve cents each, by addressing the nular cell, a tube communicating with said exhalation compartment and said lower annular cell, an air retaining tank, a tube communicating with said air retaining tank and said upper annular cell.

4. In a device as set forth, the combination, of a coat, flexible tubular cells extending annularly about the top and bottom of said coat, a plurality of vertical tubular cells communicating with said annular cells, a face mask adapted to fit snugly over the face of the wearer, inhalation and exhalation compartments formed in said face mask, a tube communicating with 'said inhalation compartment and said Lipper annular cell, a tube communicating with said exhalation compartment and said lower annular cell, an air retaining tank, a tube communicating with said air retaining tank and said upper annular cell, and an outlet valve carried by said lower annular cell for permitting of the escape of dioxygen gas therefrom.

5. In a device as set forth, the combination, of a coat, flexible tubular cells extending annularly about the top and bottom of said coat, a plurality of vertical tubular cells communicating with said annular cells, a face mask adapted to fit Vsnugly over the face of the wearer, inhalation and exhalation compartments formed in said face mask, a tube communicating with said inhalation compartment and said upper annular cell, a tube communicating with said cxhalation compartment and said lower annular cell, an air retaining tank, a tube communicating with said air retaining tank and said upperannular cell, and an outlet valve carried by said lower annular cell for permitting of the escape of dioxygen gastherefrom, and pockets formed upon said coat for supporting said mask and air retaining tank when not in use.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. Y

JOHN M. GANZER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH F. HORAN, IRENE CLAIR KEARNEY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

